A new publication on Manx Criminal Law and Procedure

The Isle of Man Law Society with the assistance of the Manx Heritage Foundation has published Manx Criminal Law and Procedure a book written by Deemster David Doyle.

It has recently been announced that Deemster Doyle has been appointed Her Majesty’s First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls.

Deemster Doyle was sworn in as Her Majesty’s Second Deemster in March 2003. As Second Deemster he presided over preliminary hearings, criminal trials and sentencing hearings in the Court of General Gaol Delivery and was therefore very well placed to write on Manx Criminal Law and Procedure. As First Deemster his judicial work will now focus on civil matters and appeals. It is therefore somewhat timely that we will have his experience on Manx Criminal Law and Procedure set down on record in this new book before he focuses on his new challenges as First Deemster and before his successor in the Court of General Gaol Delivery is appointed.

Deemster Doyle commented:

'This book was conceived during my preparation for trials in the Court of General Gaol Delivery and during my talks to trainee advocates over the last seven years. Former First Deemster William Cain has from time to time called for further literature to be published on various areas of Manx law. The publication of this book is in part an endeavour to answer that call in the important area of Manx Criminal Law and Procedure. It was Judge of Appeal Tattersall who suggested that I should develop my notes into a book and this book is in large part the result of that suggestion.

'It is important that as an Island we continue to develop our own jurisprudence to suit our own needs and that such jurisprudence is easily accessible and well known. I thank the Isle of Man Law Society for funding the publication of this book.

'I thank Charles Guard of the Manx Heritage Foundation for his encouragement and for his work in arranging for the publication of this book. I also thank Eleanor Dangerfield for undertaking the enormous tasks of proof reading and the preparation of the Tables of Acts of Tynwald, Secondary Legislation, Manx cases and the Index. I hope that all those with an interest in Manx Criminal Law and Procedure will find this publication of some assistance.'

Jonathan Wild the President of the Isle of Man Law Society stated:

'The Law Society is very pleased to be able to support this project by assisting in the publication of Manx Criminal Law and Procedure. Deemster Doyle’s text will no doubt be essential reading for advocates, students, lawyers in general and those persons with an interest in Manx law.

'It is important in the continued development of this jurisdiction’s legal environment that all forms of literature, especially texts of this nature, are produced and promoted. It takes a very considerable amount of effort by the author and others to produce a book of this calibre and we are very much indebted to the First Deemster for all the time and skill he has devoted to this project.

'The proceeds of sale of the book after publication costs will go towards a fund to be established in relation to the Deemster Kerruish Award for Endeavour which the Law Society is pleased to promote and be associated with.'

Charles Guard, the Administrator of the Manx Heritage Foundation, added:

'The Manx Heritage Foundation was delighted to be involved in this important project. Recognising the wide range of Manx cultural activities that the Foundation supports and how important this is to sustaining Manx identity, we felt that Manx law has an important part to play in defining the uniqueness of the Isle of Man, and the many centuries of Manx Statutes and their interpretation by the Judiciary, continue to set the very highest of standards which the Island can be proud of.'

Copies of the book are available at a price of £25 from the Isle of Man Law Society 27 Hope Street Douglas Isle of Man IM1 1AR (telephone 662910; email enquiries@iomlawsociety.co.im) or in local bookshops.